[HanCinema's Drama Review] "The Ghost Detective" Episodes 15-162018/10/05
In what is another two episodes of writer Han Ji-wan-I toying with our heart, "The Ghost Detective" smacks us right across the feels with a twist we may have seen coming a mile away, but which could have still never come. There is room for a fake-out yet, but a lot could possibly change about how the story moves forward regardless. With Hye's mayhem escalating, and new figures of interest popping up, we have a lot going on here,...More

[Funcurve Review] "Wanted"2017/03/18
Pursuit of Reality
"Wanted" is an SBS thriller drama starring veteran actors Kim Ah-joong as our multi-talented top actress Jeong Hye-in, Ji Hyun-woo as the intelligent and upright police officer Cha Seung-in, and Uhm Tae-woong as the capable yet extremely sobering PD Sin Dong-wook. The drama wastes no time and establishes the premise of the story and our character's relationships within the first two episodes. Our heroine Hye-in's son gets kidnapped on the day she announces her retirement from the entertainment industry,...More

[Orion's Drama News] PPL and Amnesiac Chaebols2016/09/10
Another week, another batch of news to fill the void in my heart as I wait for my new dramas. Overly dramatic statements aside, this week I consider the difference between good and bad PPL (product placement) through some translated pieces about the type of PPL and its numbers. "Shopping King Louis" has dropped plenty of cute goodies for us and "Woman with a Suitcase" is packing her bags for Dramaland with stills and a teaser,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted"2016/09/10"Wanted" is a show which made big promises about its realism before release. This is a powerful statement for fiction and an industry so liberal with its bending of reality. The idea of combining a suspense thriller about a kidnapping with a twisted reality show is a solid one and the series does surprisingly well in some aspects. It is also held back by safe choices in others,...More

[Orion's Drama News] Mellow Airport Flings2016/09/03
Autumn is here and its first week is a bit slow on the drama front, but not any less exciting than usual. "Exciting" is not the word I would use for poor Yoo In-na's nasty surprise from her Chinese drama, but I feel we will get many more in the future. "Road to the Airport" is finally giving us goodies to look at and plenty of other upcoming dramas take their first proper step into the spotlight,...More

[Orion's Drama News] In Sickness and In Inebriation2016/08/27
A lot of new shows are starting and many are coming up as summer comes to a close. "Drinking Alone" gives us a glimpse of its drinkers, lonely and not. Cancer-themed romantic comedy "Fantastic" will be starting soon and its promise is as undeniable as the oddity of the genre attached to its premise. "The K2" is a highly expected series and the creators know it, because they are all about the teasing. I also share other news and I have my picks for this drama season,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 16 Final2016/08/19
Hye-in, Seung-in and his team as well as the "Wanted" production crew prepare for one last show and one last effort to get Ham Tae-seob and SG Group for their wrongdoings. Joon-goo goes into a search for the nurse who might have Dr. Kim Bong-joon's research on the harmful nature of SG's germicide. This has been a long struggle and none have suffered more than SG's victims, who offer their support in this final show,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 152016/08/17
The penultimate episode of "Wanted" takes a look at the past and Ham Tae-yeong's involvement in the SG Group conspiracy. A lot of questions are answered and Hye-in discovers the reason why she carries some responsibility. This revelation feels rather unconvincing and certain important things remain unknown, but will hopefully be resolved in the finale. Joon-goo's tape might be the last piece of the puzzle and Dong-wook is the man who can assemble it,...More

[Orion's Drama News] Politics and Iffy Pairings2016/08/13"The K2" brings love for the country, the country's daughter and the country's power to our screens soon and "Scarlet Heart: Ryeo" is ruthlessly piling on the pretty with its new posters. "The Man In My House" is looking for leads to romance each other as newly met daughter and step dad, because Dramaland loves making us all daunted and confused. More goodies follow all of this and I close with my failure to marathon like I used to. Dramas, that is,...More

[Orion's Drama News] Warm Romances and Cold Shoulders2016/08/06
The summer-to-fall dramas are gearing up for release as the next drama season draws near. Fully pre-produced sageuk drama "Scarlet Heart: Ryeo" has dropped an impressive video filled with all the lovely things fans have probably been drooling over during its production. Speaking of Chinese stories and pre-production, I briefly consider the fate of this method in a future shaped by tensions between the countries. Lastly, I share goodies from "Incarnation of Jealousy" and other dramas,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 142016/08/05
The "Wanted" team struggles between Joon-goo's noble cause and twisted means of achieving it while Dong-wook turns out to be a fine choice for Joon-goo's plans. With pressure from SG Group and an unrelenting Tae-seob rising, Joon-goo takes desperate measures and manipulates some familiar faces to get his revenge. Hye-in still struggles to understand what her sin might be, but the show must go on and she must face two people who have wronged her at the same time,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 132016/08/03
Things look bleak in episode thirteen of "Wanted" and everyone suffers. A lot of things about the past are explained as we get to know our kidnapper and the path that brought him here. The people who bonded with Joon-goo are feeling betrayed and everyone on the good side is being hunted by SG Group, which has a tight grip on the police force. As the truth about SG's wrongdoings surfaces, Hye-in is brought closer to a difficult choice,...More

[Orion's Drama News] All the Dramas2016/07/30
My partner in not-crime, Lisa is busy over at KCON and I am here feeling lonely with a plethora of drama news. So I figure, what better therapy to loneliness is there than to share them all with you? I usually focus on specific noteworthy happenings and news, but today I switch it up. I feature three upcoming dramas and their news before piling on even more drama-ness with the usual upcoming drama goodies section. Let me pamper you,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 122016/07/29
The kidnapper is finally revealed in episode twelve of "Wanted", but this only complicates the situation. There is also the possibility of an accomplice within the police and the investigation still does not have all the past culprits. The current mission is met with great resistance as SG Group starts to interfere with the show and put great pressure on its team. With the show's future and Hyeon-woo's safety now uncertain, time is running out for the "Wanted" team,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 112016/07/27
Episode eleven of "Wanted" is packed with action and suspense, as Lee Ji-eun is put in danger when the criminals behind the seven-year-old case become desperate. The kidnapper and Na Soo-hyeon have a disagreement and the next mission is delivered to Hye-in. A life is lost and the kidnapper's plans for the reality show and their new target are about to meet great resistance. Meanwhile, the police still suspect the producers of "Wanted", adding another obstacle to the show,...More

[Orion's Drama News] Production Pains and New Romances2016/07/23
Today I talk about the always sad, always frustrating episode cutting and its latest victim, "Beautiful Mind". Ha Seok-jin is a busy man and he has two upcoming romantic dramas, so I share some media from those. Those looking for some romantic works between 35+ folks of similar age have three new dramas arriving soon which might interest them. Miscellaneous news are here, as usual and while I have been too busy to keep up with my own dramas, I can guarantee you it is because we have good things coming up at HanCinema,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 102016/07/22
The body count surrounding "Wanted" is rapidly increasing as the show and authorities close in on the ones responsible for the deaths seven years ago. Lee Ji-eun seems to be a key person and the team tries to get as much out of her as possible before the show. Meanwhile, Dong-wook reveals his twisted motive for joining the production. The search for the kidnapper continues, but a crisis occurs when what seems to be a secret mission is initiated,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 92016/07/21
Crisis hits the "Wanted" production when Ha Dong-min's lawyer and a member of their own staff are kidnapped by copycat criminals from the program's fan club. Episode nine takes a step back from Hyeon-woo's case to look at the consequences of such a reality show, but the kidnapper's behavior during this situation acts as an additional clue in the investigation for their identity. The time to find out Ha Dong-min and Kim Woo-jin's connection to all of this approaches,...More

[Spoiler] 'Wanted' Lee Jae-kyoon meets Hyosung: "I've got one last thing to do"2016/07/21, Source
On the episode 10 of SBS' Wednesday & Thursday drama, "Wanted", the kidnapper (Lee Jae-kyoon) disguised himself as a doctor and came to see the victim, Park Bo-yeon to apologized to her.
Once he disguised himself as a doctor, the kidnapper could go through the police security line without any problem. As he faced Park Bo-yeon, he hid the cruel side of a murderer and apologized to her saying gently, "I am sorry. This should not have happened to you",...More

[Orion's Drama News] Romance, Youth and Talent2016/07/16
Promotion has started for "Cinderella and the Four Knights" and I share the goodies that have been released. I also talk about the importance of shows like "Age of Youth" and share news and media from it. You might want to sit down for this next one, because I reveal a shocking truth, which is that actors actually act. This world-changing revelation is followed by the usual drama news and personal drama picks,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 82016/07/15
Another pawn in the kidnapper's game is revealed, but I am starting to wonder what is and is not controlled by the mastermind and why they seem so forgiving of errors. Hye-in's "Wanted" is in danger of cancellation and our heroine finds unlikely allies. The show is increasingly being criticized for glamorizing violence and we find out Jeong-ho's true nature. Some things feel a bit odd and others clumsily presented, but "Wanted" has not dropped the ball yet,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 72016/07/14"Wanted" has been raising more questions than it has been answering and everyone feels like a suspect. The creators choose to provide some answers in episode seven, giving viewers some pay-off for the guessing game we have been going through so far. Some connections between culprits and victims are explained, the nature of certain characters becomes clearer and the elephant in the room is addressed when the show comes under serious scrutiny for its deadly influence,...More

[Orion's Drama News] Recurring Trends and Great Ladies2016/07/09
What would Dramaland be without its love for trends? The answer is "probably better", but let us not go into the value of those trends for now. They are here and they will join us for the next drama season. Coming up are loves across time and universes as well as two major "reverse harem" productions. I will also talk about tvN as a star magnet and give you the usual weekly news,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 62016/07/08
A couple of episodes back I said that "Wanted" is making me paranoid. The series is quick to reward and encourage this viewer mindset by proving my assumptions right. Hye-in's life faces danger in episode six and so does the show during her absence. New suspects and criminals surface while Hye-in's "allies" are preoccupied with their own agenda. We have a new murder in the present, one in the past and the first direct call from Hyeon-woo,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 52016/07/07
Deeper down the rabbit hole we go with "Wanted" and things are starting to get personal for more of the people involved. The kidnapper's goals and knowledge seem to reach far beyond Hye-in and Hyeon-woo while Seung-in's involvement might have been planned all along. Our heroine is reaching the limit of how long she can keep Hyeon-woo's identity a secret from the world and our suspect list grows bigger with every episode of the culprit's twisted reality show,...More

[Orion's Drama News] The Weight of Representation2016/07/02
It is time for some much hyped dramas to make an entrance and two of them are premiering this week. Before getting to that, however I will take a first look at "Incarnation of Jealousy" and its fresh material. I will also give my two cents on an upcoming series and its potential casting which I find highly problematic. Closing this piece are the usual upcoming drama goodies and followed shows,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 42016/07/01"Wanted" is getting darker by the episode as everyone's wits and morality are being toyed with by someone who has clearly put a lot of thought into the reality show they have created. Hye-in has to manipulate, betray and increasingly expose herself to the world while everyone around her does their best to get their job done. A possible motive for the show's creation is revealed and the suspect list keeps getting bigger as more secrets are revealed,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 32016/06/29"Wanted" could have easily relied on suspense over a stock kidnapping story, but it is refreshing to see how bold its creators are in touching delicate social subjects through it. This time around domestic violence and its treatment by the law and press become a topic. We also find out more about our characters, including Seung-in and his presumably painful past. With the second mission being handed and Hyeon-woo's status being unconfirmed, Hye-in has a lot to deal with,...More

[Orion's Drama News] From Rags to Mega-Riches2016/06/25
This week I talk KCON New York and HanCinema's attendance there. I also take a look at the super rich, super smart, super talented and all around perfect character of Lee Jong-suk in "W" and what he might mean in terms of how we write and experience fiction and Korean dramas. Before my upcoming drama goodies and personal watch list, I talk Dramaland ladies and introduce upcoming drama "Woman of Dignity",...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 22016/06/23
Hye-in is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders as "Wanted", the show within this show kicks off. Everyone has a motive to keep the camera rolling and Hye-in knows full well that she has no true allies in this media circus. The first task has been given and there are casualties, increasing the involvement of the police. The drama takes advantage of its premise for some apt social commentary, making its imaginary world too close to ours for comfort,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Wanted" Episode 12016/06/23
If you have already watched the first episode of "Wanted", please have a glass of water. If you have not, put the snacks down. There will not be any time for them. The series waits for no one and we are thrown in at the deep end right away. The kidnapping takes place and the show within the show is about to begin. There are a few issues with the writing and character introductions, but the atmosphere and suspense are spot on,...More

[Spoiler] 'Wanted' Kim Ah-joong has to rescue son kidnapped2016/06/22, Source
'SBS drama, "Wanted" aired its first episode at 10 PM on June 22. On the day Jeong Hyein (Kim Ah-joong) announced her retirement all of sudden, her son Hyeonwoo was kidnapped.
After her son told her that he was going outside to play one of the staffers on the filming set, he disappeared without any trace. While Jeong Hyein was searching around to find her son, she received a message saying, "If you report to police, Hyeonwoo will die right away",...More

[HanCinema's Drama Preview] "Wanted"2016/06/18
The last SBS thriller about a mother looking for her child left audiences divided on the ending, but "Wanted" is here as a possible re-do for those who loved the general premise of the aforementioned "God's Gift - 14 Days". The latest drama certain has a lot going for it, but there are some production issues which might cause problems. Let us take a first look on what we have of it so far,...More

[Orion's Drama News] "Go Ahead, (Re)Make My Day"2016/06/11
It is a week of popularity giants and remakes, as star-studded summer and autumn dramas are already being compared on premise, production and participants. I also take a little look at news on the emerging trend of recreating popular North American series as Korean dramas. Not that the industry has no alternatives or does not remake enough things already, as evident by the third topic I share news of today,...More

[Orion's Drama News] Rising Actresses and Consolation Cheese2016/05/28
Some major titles are coming our way and this week is rich with announcements. With many series approaching about younger characters, we get to experience the new wave of actresses tasked with bringing the roles of young women back in the spotlight. "Cheese in the Trap" fans are in for some odd, but potentially good news and we have script reading photos from some upcoming series along with the usual news,...More

[Orion's Drama News] Slumps and Filming Ouchies2016/05/21
Since pre-production started getting more popular in drama, I have had hopes things will get better for their quality and the filming conditions. They have in some ways, but big industries will always have their problems, I guess. This week the "Beautiful Mind" mess continues over at KBS, we take a look at one pro of pre-production and check out upcoming titles and the expectations for them,...More

[Orion's Drama News] Stars, Awards and Exports2016/05/07
Join me in a week of awards, casting additions and even some new drama announcements. This time around I contemplate the drama race for appeal in the Chinese market, which we all know is becoming a top priority of wannabe-popular series. I also present to you some of our links for the upcoming 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards and take a look at some of the freshly cast or confirmed actors for upcoming dramas,...More

Wanted (원티드)

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